Q: I changed the oil but not the filter on our 2006 VW Beetle. Why? Because it’s such a pain dropping the belly pan. I know I’m mixing fresh oil with the dirty in the filter, but am I risking any real harm?

T.S., Palos Heights, Illinois

A: In the short term, damage is unlikely. Eventually the filter could plug up. But fortunately, there is an oil bypass valve inside the oil filter housing in most VWs. If the filter is clogged, the bypass valve opens so oil can flow through the engine. In some vehicles, the bypass valve is integrated with the oil filter. Of course, dirty oil is better than no oil, but engine wear will eventually occur.

Q: We have been driving our 2018 Honda CR-V since it was new. It now has 90,000 miles. At around 75,000 miles, we noticed the steering was beginning to develop a little "catch" when making a turn above 40 mph. Although the problem started as intermittent, it has worsened with more miles. When making a small steering adjustment, such as a slight curve in the highway, the wheel resists the turn, and it feels like there is a notch that must be overcome in order to move.

B.T., Long Lake, Minnesota

A: Honda released a service bulletin in July 2023 that describes the condition you’re experiencing. To address this issue, Honda told dealerships to remove the electronic power steering (EPS) gearbox and replace it with a new gearbox. This may also apply to your car.

Q: Someone wrote to you with a sort of rebuttal of my advice to use lemon oil to remove sticky substances. Lemon oil and lemon juice are not the same. Yes, ages ago we would put lemon juice in our hair to lighten it in the sun. I have never had any bleaching issues when using pure lemon oil to get rid of sticky substances. I use it to get price tags off plastic, glass, wood, etc. I use it to get pine sap off my feet. I use it to get sticky substances off any and all parts of my vehicles.

C.Z., Holderness, New Hampshire

A: I am now officially out of the household advice business. (Pine sap on your feet?)

Q: Concerning the guy who paid $400 for new lug nuts because of corrosion under the plating, I had the same issue with my 2002 Hyundai Accent. I simply used a razor blade scraper, chisel and file to remove enough plating to allow the tire iron to fit. After the nuts were removed, I cleaned them up better on my bench grinder. To do this for all four wheels maybe took me 30 minutes. Problem solved.

E.S., Allentown, Pennsylvania

A: Let’s do some math. A good razor blade scraper costs under $25. A good bench grinder costs about $200. A set of new lug nuts from an auto parts store can be had for under $100. What is your labor worth?

Q: We just bought a new Camry, our first car with a touch screen. What's the best way to clean it? I understand that Windex products with ammonia may harm the screen.

K.J., Des Plaines, Illinois

A: There are several products available for cleaning computer monitor screens. I have been using ScreenDr Professional for everything with a screen, touch screen or not.

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